Director, Emergency Services, Bikur Cholim Hospital
A few clarifications. In a previous column I referred to
zucchini and pea pods. I am sorry for forgetting about my
British and Australian readers: zucchini in the UK is a
courgette, and pea pods — also known as snow peas in
the USA — are mangetouts.
Another clarification. Someone said that Optalgin is not an
anti-inflammatory. However, Martindale — the
international drug compendium — does list this as an
early NSAID. Prescriber's Newsletter confirms this. If
it is a NSAID, it does reduce inflammation, although we are
not sure that is a good thing. If you still disagree then
call me.
Cancer needs very toxic therapies to cure it, and sometimes
there are residual effects. Some chemotherapy regimens can
leave heart damage. Some radiation therapies can leave nerves
and bowel seriously affected. It thus pays to know which
chemotherapies have a high rate of success. We do know that
chemo for Hodgkin's is very successful in curing the disease,
while the therapy for pancreatic cancer is usually not too
effective.
We were asked about chronic cough. Here are some pointers.
Cough is always present for a few weeks to months after a
pneumonia, and bronchitis as well. Other causes can be
pertussis, which is also known as whooping cough. This is
being reported more often in adults. Asthma, smoker's hack
and poor heart function are other causes of cough. Reflux of
gastric juices, and post nasal drip are also causes.
Many cough remedies do not work. Solves, Bromohexine,
codeine, dextromethorphan are all a waste of your money.
According to the New England Journal of Medicine, your
best bets are the first generation antihistamines (in Israel
— Broncholate), the bronchodilators (Ventolin) and
NSAIDs (Naxyn, etc.). Please cover your mouth when you
cough, and wash your hands frequently. Write me in care of
the Yated.
A message from GlaxoSmithKline, sponsor of this
column. We already mentioned Ventolin. This medication is
well accepted and safe. It is by far the most widely used
bronchodilator in the USA and the world. It is used not only
as an inhalation treatment in the emergency department but
also in an inhaler for home use. It works well and has years
of use to prove it.
